Captain Joseph E. O'Connor, USN (Ret) of Jericho Dr., Old Lyme, died Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
He was born on February 12, 1930 in New Haven, the son of John and Hannah O'Connor. He graduated from Hillhouse High School then from Southern Connecticut State College. He married Agnes Quaini on July 4, 1953 in West Haven.
Captain O'Connor served honorably in the US Navy from 1952 until his retirement in 1979. During his distinguished career he received many commendations and held numerous positions including: Commanding Officer of the USS Chivo, Deputy Director of the Strategic Operations Division for the Atlantic Fleet, Commander of Submarine Division 121, Director of Joint Strategic Target Planning and Commanding Officer of the West Coast Service School Command.
He was a long time member of Christ the King Church in Old Lyme, the Old Lyme Lion's Club, VFW Post 1467, American Legion Post 41, and the Navy League of the United States. He served as President of the Lyme/Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, a docent at the US Sub Museum and a volunteer at Mystic Seaport.
While a strong leader throughout his distinguished Navy career and thereafter, Joe was also as warm, gentle and friendly as anyone you've ever met. In retirement, Joe enjoyed travelling with Agnes, sailing, making sticky buns at Christmas, playing poker with his buddies and trying to beat the stock market. Joe was a loving and very proud father to his children and supported all of their endeavors. For the past 30 years, Joe loved nothing better than spending time with his grandchildren, John, Meg, Joey, Matt, Sarah and Timmy; and was able to watch them all grow up to become college graduates and productive adults. He burst with pride when he talked about them, and was very excited recently to also join the ranks of great-grandfathers when Agnes Marie was born.
He is survived by Agnes, his loving and devoted wife of almost 63 years, his daughter Elizabeth (Michael) Dickoff of MN and son Joseph (Kathryn) O'Connor, Jr. of NE; grandchildren John (Julianna Simon) Dickoff, Meghan (David) Blodgett, Matthew Dickoff, Joseph (fiancée Caitlin O'Neill) O'Connor, Sarah O'Connor and Timothy O'Connor; great grandchild Agnes Marie Simon-Dickoff; brothers Raymond O'Connor of Orange and Harold O'Connor of North Branford, sister Mary Mongillo of Cheshire, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two sons David and John O'Connor and brothers John O'Connor and Robert O'Connor
Captain Joseph E. O'Connor, USN (Ret) of Jericho Dr., Old Lyme, died Saturday, June 4, 2016 at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
He was born on February 12, 1930 in New Haven, the son of John and Hannah O'Connor. He graduated from Hillhouse High School then from Southern Connecticut State College. He married Agnes Quaini on July 4, 1953 in West Haven.
Captain O'Connor served honorably in the US Navy from 1952 until his retirement in 1979. During his distinguished career he received many commendations and held numerous positions including: Commanding Officer of the USS Chivo, Deputy Director of the Strategic Operations Division for the Atlantic Fleet, Commander of Submarine Division 121, Director of Joint Strategic Target Planning and Commanding Officer of the West Coast Service School Command.
He was a long time member of Christ the King Church in Old Lyme, the Old Lyme Lion's Club, VFW Post 1467, American Legion Post 41, and the Navy League of the United States. He served as President of the Lyme/Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, a docent at the US Sub Museum and a volunteer at Mystic Seaport.
While a strong leader throughout his distinguished Navy career and thereafter, Joe was also as warm, gentle and friendly as anyone you've ever met. In retirement, Joe enjoyed travelling with Agnes, sailing, making sticky buns at Christmas, playing poker with his buddies and trying to beat the stock market. Joe was a loving and very proud father to his children and supported all of their endeavors. For the past 30 years, Joe loved nothing better than spending time with his grandchildren, John, Meg, Joey, Matt, Sarah and Timmy; and was able to watch them all grow up to become college graduates and productive adults. He burst with pride when he talked about them, and was very excited recently to also join the ranks of great-grandfathers when Agnes Marie was born.
He is survived by Agnes, his loving and devoted wife of almost 63 years, his daughter Elizabeth (Michael) Dickoff of MN and son Joseph (Kathryn) O'Connor, Jr. of NE; grandchildren John (Julianna Simon) Dickoff, Meghan (David) Blodgett, Matthew Dickoff, Joseph (fiancée Caitlin O'Neill) O'Connor, Sarah O'Connor and Timothy O'Connor; great grandchild Agnes Marie Simon-Dickoff; brothers Raymond O'Connor of Orange and Harold O'Connor of North Branford, sister Mary Mongillo of Cheshire, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two sons David and John O'Connor and brothers John O'Connor and Robert O'Connor
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